Lord Haw Haw

We are considering an extended voyage in a B1 balcony and were hoping you could clarify a few items for us.

I see there is no self serve laundry on the ship. Is any laundry included for those that are not travelling in a suite? If there is no inclusion do you provide a bag wash service or is it by the piece and if so could you provide some idea of the costs.

Are included alcoholic drinks available at any time? Is there any restrictions on service during port days or outside meal times when sailing outside of the polar regions? Any chance you could post a copy of what's included plus the premium list even if it is an example.

I see 1mb of data is included. Is this per person per sailing? Do you anticipate that limits maybe altered to unlimited at some time in the future due to the advancement of technology?

I have noticed people on this thread commenting that there is a fairly limited room service menu for those not in suites, we are not big uses of room service but occasionally like a hamburger or something along those lines. Any chance you could share a copy of the current room service menu?

Thanks in advance 😃 

Virgin Gorda was also very nice.

I'm sure you would have a wonderful time on any of the journeys you are looking at, I guess it all depends on if you are cruising for the itinerary or the ship. For me the most striking port on our current journey has been St Lucia with St Barts as a close second.

Hello Magnus, both are excellent and regardless of the line you chose I’m sure you will have a wonderful time. If you are thinking about a Caribbean cruise and enjoy outdoor space, multiple pools, a younger demographic and European flavour maybe Explora would suit you, however I’m not sure I could justify paying a premium over Crystal.

I know this is somewhat off topic, but is anyone able to advise if the laundry offers a bag wash service and if so what is the cost? I noticed in an earlier post someone shared a photo of the services offered but it seemed to be all single item pricing.

Has anyone been able to invite guests onboard for dinner or lunch and if so what is the process?

Could you confirm if the tenders are air conditioned?

I struggle to see how they will manage to obtain enough bookings on Explora 1 to justify four months in the middle east from November 2025 to February 2026, maybe I'm wrong but I think in the current climate many travellers would be hesitant. 

Now I'm not really a gambler but I am interested to hear your thoughts on what the ship will be named.

I have $50 on narciccus.

4 hours ago, vistaman said:

EJ obviously has a great agreement with Louis Vuiton Moët Hennessy .

7 hours ago, Hlitner said:

That is interesting, from a financial point of view.  I can see DW and I following a similar pattern.  While we do really enjoy wines, they must at least be drinkable (by our standards).  If the complementary wines are rubbish, we would probably drink a lot more of the Moet as the better option.  Moet will cost EJ more money than buying half decent wines in the $15-$20 range (wholesale).

 

Hank

Not so, many these days only chose to have half a glass.

Recent dining review.

Let's hope that eventually it works out just like it did for Bligh.

24 minutes ago, LuiK said:

How should it be resolved that for over 900 guests there are only approximately 100 seats at Sakura and Marble… and even with all other restaurants approximately 300 people have to end up in the buffet each night? It‘s a design flaw of the ship! And even if they cramp the restaurants to the last seat it is no fun, when you have to share tables at a (not so) luxury cruise.

 

On the German website of Explora there is no information about mandatory reservations for restaurants and that you are only allowed to dine once in Sakura and Marble. People were rushing to reserve seats after boarding or managed to reserve onshore – I don't know and I don't care.

 

We pay 1.000 Euro per night. You can get the buffet on MSC and waiting for seated dining in queues for less than 100 Euro per night. When we want to dine in a seated setting, we will get that and will not end up in the buffet because of Explora‘s mismanagements and misplannings – if a table looks available we will make a scene until we are seated. End of story.

 

Here are the opening hours:

 

 

I have heard talk of mutiny..best to grab a baguette and wave it around until the desired outcome is reached.

1 hour ago, ajouni said:

It is self leveling 

 

Must have a gyroscope.

1 hour ago, uktog said:

Indeed the voucher is as I understand (though I’ve still not seen it) for only 30% of the value of the booking which you have to use for a future booking within 1 year at todays higher prices which reduces its value to under 20%. People who had cruises cancelled almost a year out got 40%. Those who had their May and June cruises cancelled six months out got 100%. 
Given how late the cancellation was, I feel Explora Journey have been so wrapped up in protecting the future sailings they treated those affected for 17 July rather shabbily. As I am still waiting for the refund and details of the voucher I’ll suspend final judgement on them until I see all the paperwork but on current form my November cruise with them (already paid for in full) may well be my first and last 

Take it from someone who has missed cruises due to delays in ship completion, owners going bankrupt, COVID shut downs etc, etc. No it's never nice...count your blessings that at the worst you will be reimbursed for your outlay with an option for a reduced price on the next one (I know, I know, your choice..yes it's inconvenient). I'm pretty sure that the cruise lines are not in a conspiracy to ruin our holiday plans. Might be time for you to start a new thread..for me I like to look forward.

56 minutes ago, uktog said:

My issue is refund and air flights refunds, no offer of reschedule 

Best of luck with your refund but it might be time to start a new thread on this topic.

See link below 

https://openjaw.com/newsroom/cruise/2023/07/19/explora-i-maiden-voyage-confirmed-for-01aug-with-priority-on-sustainability/

Not sure how reliable this is but someone mentioned the other day that the complementary champagne is Billecart-Salmon, can anyone confirm?

Am I wrong in thinking that something may be amiss in the description Explora is giving for the ports in the Caribbean?

From the below list of ports Deshaies and Quepos are the only ones requiring a tender? 

Any advice would be appreciated.

Miami USA

Key West USA

Spanish Town Virgin Gorda

Gustavia St Barths

St John Antigua and Barbuda

Deshaies Guadeloupe

Soufriers St Lucia

Bequia St Vincent and the Grenadines

Bridgetown Barbados

Roseau Dominica

Willemstad Curaco

Oranjestad Aruba

Cartagena Columbia 

Puerto Limon Costa Rica

Panama City Panama 

Quepos Costa Rica

San Jan Del Sur Nicaragua

Puerto Quetzal Mexico

Puerto Mexico

Cabo San Lucas Mexico

San Diego Mexico

Los Angles USA

25 minutes ago, Keith1010 said:

Friends on the Crystal sailing we booked.  Itinerary.  Pricing.  We prefer to sail with new Crystal.

 

Keith

Thanks, we considered doing the same. Travel companions are a very important part of cruising. Hope you enjoy your sailing.

On 4/21/2023 at 1:47 AM, Moby Jones said:

There is no dress code. I'm onboard now and people are having dinner in the main dining room wearing t-shirts, ball caps, shorts and denim jeans. It has to be the most casually dressed cruise line in existence. 

Very few people have made an effort to dress up. 

Sorry but a baseball cap indoors only shouts bald headed man to me.

On 5/27/2023 at 6:08 AM, Keith1010 said:

I am not sure how one qualifies this.

 

What I do know is Explora Jouney started with not many people and not a lot of details.

 

I actually booked a cruise in the early stages and know someone who was working with them in a key role with no one else but him.  

 

I would say most of what I learned was from a web event they did and a lot of that was high level with not a lot of detail. It sounded good. Otherwise I wouldn't have booked it. I did cancel after Crystal published its itineraries.  

 

I would say what we knew at the early stages is very similar for both companies.

 

Start ups have the challenge of when to ramp ups with hiring and that applies to most startups since they don't have a true revenue stream.  

 

I wish them success as I do new Crystal.

 

Keith

Hi Keith,

Just wondering what the main drivers were for you to cancel Explora and book on Crystal?

Thanks in advance.

There are two options for payment, standard booking is 25% deposit with the balance three months out from sailing or payment in full at time of booking which attracts a 5% discount. 

As far as location goes I would avoid deck 6 as the restaurants are below the suites, the cheapest are mid ship as the don't have the extended balcony that the forward and aft suites have on this level.

There was an earlier cross promotion for MSC diamond loyalty customers, you may want to look at the previous thread in relation to this.

Always found a wider selection of paddles in Copenhagen.

4 minutes ago, Winifred 22 said:

No courses for me.Cunard is at the top of my price range. No desire to cruise less often by spending more on upscaling. I’ve known some people spend more per night than I do on my whole cruise !! 100% their choice but not mine. Can’t see the point . Cunard ticks all my boxes so that’s a no from me. 😀🚢

 

As I said horses for course, best of luck and keep on sailing...I just like to keep an open mind.